Footnote : A song I first heard sung by Glasgow-born Lonnie Donegan and
printed in commemoration of the first anniversary of his death (3 November
2002). Lonnie Donegan was acknowledged as the 'King of Skiffle' but was,
as he claimed himself in an interview on Radio Scotland, shortly before
his death, a folksinger. He was born Anthony James Donegan in Dennison,
Glasgow, (29 April 1931), but changed his name in honour of the black
American guitarist Lonnie Johnson. His first hit 'Rock Island Line' was
inspired by the great Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly, which
proved a major hit in both the USA and UK and reached some 3 million
sales. Between 1956 and 1962 he achieved some 26 Top Ten Hits, including
use of much American folk material such as 'Cumberland Gap', 'Grand Coulee
Dam' , 'Battle of New Orleans' and 'Pick a Bale of Cotton'. His folk and
jazz roots led to a career spanning over 50 years in the music business.

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